Good morning, Chicago. It’s our nation’s 249th birthday. Here are some stories to help you celebrate the holiday. 

‘Leave the Fireworks to the Experts’: First Responders Warn

Firefighters hold a demonstration on July 1, 2025, showing the dangers of sparklers. (WTTW News)

First responders and doctors gathered ahead of Fourth of July celebrations to remind residents how quickly fireworks and sparklers can lead to fires, injury and even death. Chicago Fire Department Commanding Fire Marshal Ryan Rivera, in charge of fire investigations in the city, gave a message to residents in a Tuesday news conference: “Be safe, be smart and we plead with you, leave the fireworks to the experts.” Unpermitted fireworks and sparklers are illegal in Chicago. That doesn’t stop residents from putting on DIY firework displays in city streets, backyards and alleys every year.

Last year, there were 11 reported fireworks-related deaths in the U.S., most involving misuse and device misfire and malfunctions, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Two of the fireworks-related deaths were in Illinois, including the death of 34-year-old Earl Lory on the Northwest Side of Chicago.

Watch 'A Capitol Fourth Tonight on WTTW

(WTTW) 

“A Capitol Fourth” celebrates our nation’s 249th birthday with a live broadcast from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol — honoring our freedoms and independence and those who defend them. The all-star event features patriotic and musical performances across genres, including pop, country, R&B, classical and Broadway, with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly. The 45th anniversary of “A Capitol Fourth,” the National Independence Day Celebration, will be capped off by the greatest display of fireworks for America’s biggest birthday party.

7 p.m. on WTTW.

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Who’s Performing at 'A Capitol Fourth 2025'?

The Beach Boys (Credit: Capital Concerts) 

Now in its 45th year, “A Capitol Fourth” is back with a concert and fireworks display that WTTW and PBS are broadcasting live from Washington, D.C. The performers taking part include New Orleans jazz mainstays like Trombone Shorty, surf-pop legends The Beach Boys, country crooner Josh Turner and many more. Click here for the full list.

Need a Recipe? Try This Fourth of July Berry Dessert “Pizza”

Credit: iStock

Make this Fourth of July Berry Sweetza Pizza for a festive Fourth of July treat that you can make with children. Aviva Goldfarb of The Six O'Clock Scramble shares this recipe with PBS.

Nature Calls: This Week’s Outdoorsy Events and Activities 

Every Friday, WTTW News science and nature reporter Patty Wetli highlights the best ways to get outside. 

Patty Wetli: Happy Fourth of July! Still in need of weekend plans? We’ve got some outdoor options.  

There’s no shame in playing tourist in your hometown, especially when that hometown is Chicago. Treat yourself to a free, guided tour of the Riverwalk. The hour-long stroll sets out at 11:30 a.m., Friday through Sunday, from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at East Wacker and North State.  

On this all-American holiday, pay a visit to Kankakee Sands-Indiana, where a herd of bison roams. The bison viewing area is open daily, 7 a.m. to dusk.  

Beavers are another North American icon. To see what makes these critters so interesting — namely their engineering skills — join a guided hike to a beaver dam near Cook County forest preserves’ Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center in Willow Springs. The walk-and-talk is free, but registration is required. Saturday, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Garfield Park Conservatory’s new Artist’s Garden Flower Show celebrates the work of painter and muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. The landscape design is inspired by the plants and flowers depicted in his works, including calla lilies, Mexican petunias and Mexican sunflowers. The outdoor, living exhibit will be on display through Sept. 14. The conservatory is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chicago Bird Alliance hosts weekly walks at Jackson Park on Saturdays, 8-10 a.m. Take a leisurely stroll through Wooded Island and Bobolink Meadow communing with our feathered friends. Beginners welcome; no registration required but BYOB (bring your own binoculars).

Sign up for an intro to rock climbing clinic at Chicago’s Steelworkers Park, Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. Beginners to climbing will learn the skills and techniques needed to tackle a wall like Steelworkers’. Advance registration is required; cost is $20, with all equipment provided.

Does your neighborhood park host an “unofficial” fireworks free-for-all on the 4th of July? Check it out on the 5th and help with the cleanup.

And finally, don’t forget to submit your entries in the naming contest for Chicago’s piping plover chicks.

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What’s your favorite neighborhood to visit on Chicago's West Side? Tell us why.

Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to say: 

Division street between California and Ashland: best restaurants and bars in the Chicago area—King J.

I love Humboldt Park but if I had to choose a neighborhood I don't live in, it'd be Dunning, solely for a sub at The Original Nottoli and Son—Josh Terry, newsletter producer for WTTW News

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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry